Symposium on Sustainable Tourism Mobility in Vienna

The symposium was organised on 7-8 November by the Austrian Federal Ministries of Labour and Economy, and Climate Action within THE PEP Partnership, a United Nations Partnership on Sustainable Tourism Mobility. The event aimed to foster dialogue among stakeholders from the mobility, transport, tourism, and climate action sectors.

Key topics included: 

• Long-distance travel by train: Emphasizing the importance of sustainable options for long-distance travel. 
• Active mobility: Promoting walking and cycling as integral parts of the tourism experience. 
• Practical recommendations and case studies: Sharing successful examples and strategies for integrating sustainable mobility into tourism. 
   

Sustainable Tourism Mobility: Governance, Resources, and Cooperation

Nina Nesterova, professor at the Centre for Sustainability, Tourism and Transport, participated in a panel discussion on Sustainable Tourism Mobility: Governance, Resources, and Cooperation. Among others, she was joined by Dirk Glaesser, Director of Sustainable Development of Tourism at UN Tourism; Thomas Voldoire, Representative for Sustainable Tourism at the Ministry of Economics, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, France; and Sofia Bento, Coordinator of the Portuguese National Strategy for Active Mobility at the National Institute of Mobility and Transport, Portugal.

The panel discussed how national authorities and international organisations can play a key role by effective coordination and capacity building. 
 
Nina highlighted the close cooperation between the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management in the areas of tourism and mobility. This collaboration aims to integrate tourism demand into mobility discussions, focusing on sustainable practices. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management has identified five main program pillars: mobility for sports activities, sports events, festivals, day attractions, and holidays abroad. This initiative builds on existing policies and brings together various governmental efforts under one framework. 

"These issues can lead to disjointed policies and hinder the integration of sustainable practices."

“The benefits of cross-sectoral cooperation in tourism mobility are evident. It enhances policy efficiency by fostering mutual understanding and continuity, especially in changing political landscapes. Additionally, it allows for better data utilization across sectors, supporting informed policy-making and the development of sustainable business models. However, several barriers hinder effective cooperation, such as fragmented policy frameworks, conflicting sectoral priorities, and challenges in data sharing. These issues can lead to disjointed policies and hinder the integration of sustainable practices," Nina noted.

“To overcome these barriers, it is crucial to develop cross-sectoral programs that promote integrated planning and data exchange between tourism and mobility sectors. Translating national programs to regional and local levels ensures effective implementation and prioritization of leisure and tourism mobility. Establishing long-term collaboration structures between sectors can mitigate disruptions due to political changes. Overall, sustainable tourism mobility requires a collaborative, multi-level approach with clear policies, adequate resources, and effective partnerships,” according to Nesterova.

An Inspiration Guide on sustainable Mobility in Tourism was also presented at the symposium, offering practical recommendations and innovative approaches to help national governments incorporate sustainable mobility solutions into their policy. download here

Photo: Umweltbundesamt/B. Gröger